Disk harrow



May 29, 1923.

1,457,280 R. H. GRIFFITH DISK HARROW Filed Nov. l, 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet l May 29, 1923. 1,457,280

R. H. GRIFFITH l DISK HRROW Filed Nov. l, 1920 4 Sheets--Sheell 2 May 29, 1923.

R. H. GRIFFITH DISK HARROW Filed Nov) 1, 1920. 4 sheets-sheet .1

Patented May `215'), 1923.

UNrrED STATES PATEN FFICE.

RICHARD H. GRIFFITH, OF BELLEVUE, OHIO, ASSIGNOR T THE OHIO CULTIVATOR COMPANY, OF BELLEVUE, OHIO, A CORPORATION 0F OHIO.

ADisk HARROW.

Application led Nbvember 1, 1920. Serial No. 421,050.

T 0 all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, RICHARD H. GRIFFITH, a citizen of the United States, residin at Bellevue, in the countyof Huron and tate of'Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Disk Harrows, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in harrows, and more particularly to that class or type known as double or tandem disk harrows in which front and rearunits are employed, each unit embodying a front pair and a rear pair of rotary disk gangs together with means for adjustably Vmounting and connecting said disk gangs whereby the same may be angled or turned in opposite directions relative to each other and to the line of draft.

The invention further relates to that class or typeof double disk harrows known as engine disk harrows, the present improvements being particularly designed and adapted for use, in connection with a tractor, and with this endv in view the improvements relate particularly to improved draft connections for such implements including in particular an improved draft appliance with manually operable adjusting and locking mechanism whereby the disk gangs may be readily moved to and secured in any desired angular position relative to each other by the operator of the tractor while in the seat or upon the platform of the latter, the con-A struction and arran ement of the parts being such that when t e disk gangs are locked in their normal working or fully angled position, or in an intermediate angular working position, and are relatively released by the operator while'the tractor is in motion, such disk gangs will automatically assume their nonworking or non-angular transporting position, or a less angular working position. as the operator may elect, and may be stopped and locked in such elected position while the tractor is in motion. Furthermore, if "desired, the disk gangs may be, manually moved from their parallel position to an angular position, or from one angular position to another angular working position, while in motion, thru a single hand lever with a minimum expenditure of ener by the operator. Furthermore, if desire the disk gangs may not only be manually moved to a more angular or' to a. fully angledposition when the implement is at rest (as contra-distinguished from merely settingy the an le to be assumed on the next forward pul or when in motion, but means are provided whereby when the disk gangs are moved slightly beyond their fully angled or Workm0r position the parts will be automatica ly released so as to permit the disk gangs to automatically assume their parallel `or transporting position on the next forward pull (if the implement is at rest when the adjustment is made), or if the tractor and implement are in motion will automatically assume their parallel or transporting'position without damaging jar or impact, whereupon the operator may again proceed to give the disk gangs any desired angled position thru the angling or actuating mechamsm.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a generally improved` implement of the character indicated, of simple and durable construction, and which by reason of l the improvements hereinafter more particularly referred to will be exceedingly eiiicient in operation and not in any way .liable to.-

disarrangement or damage in service.

The improvements further relate to an improved construction and arrangement of the front and rear barrow frames, together with an improved construction and arrangement of the draft appliance and the draft connections leading from the latter to the pivoted and inner connections of the front and rear disk gangs. An object in this construction is to transmit the draft ofthe tractor directly thru the draft appliance 'and its connections to the inner and 1nter mediate bearings of the front and rear disk v angs.

With the above mentioned and other ends in view, the invention consistsv in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts, hereinafter described, illustrated in one of its embodiments in the accompany-l ing drawings and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

' Referring to the drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is -a top plan view of a disk harrow constructed in accordance with this invention, the disk gangs being in their parallel or non-working transporting positlons.

'Fig. 2, a top plan view of the same, the disk gangs being in their extreme angled or working positions, the central or relatively movable draft appliance and its draft connections being in their relatively rearmost positions.

Fig. 3, a side elevation of the same with the disk gangs in their parallel extending or transportingl positions, the draft appliance and its draft connections being in their relatively foremost positions.

F ig. 4, a front elevation, partly in scction, taken on line 4.--4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5, a front elevation, partly in section, of the rear harrow frame and disk gangs, taken substantially on line 5 5 of Fig. l.

Fig. 6, an enlarged front elevation of the mechanism for manually actuating, adjusting and locking the relatively fixed and movable draft members on the front harrow frame relative to each other, the central draft connections being shown -in cross section.

Fig. 7, a side elevation of the same, the central draft members to which it is attached being shown in side elevation.

Similar numerals of reference designate like parts thruout all the figures of the drawing.

The improved harron7 or tillage implement comprises a front harrow section or unit and a rear or trailing harrow section or unit. The front and rear harrow sections may be of any suitable and convenient form, and for the purpose of illustration I have shown my improved draft appliance and its connections applied to or embodied in a double or tandem disk harrow of the double or tandem frame type.

As a means of adjustably mounting and connecting the front pair and the rear pair of rotary disk gangs whereby the same may be angled or turned in opposite directions relative to each other and to the line of draft, and particularly as a means of holding said disk gangs in properly spaced relation to each other and the rear gangs in proper trailing position at all times, and also as a means of guiding and holding the inner ends of the front gang and the inner ends of the rear gang against their tendency to incline or tilt upwardly and downwardly, respectively, a front harrow frame l, and a rear harrow fame 2, are provided,

which barrow frames, it will be observed, are of a special construction and are arranged 1n a novel form relative to each other and the disk gangs and their connections for the purposes hereinafter referred to.

It will be seen that the front and rear harrow frames 1 and 2, are made up of two pieces of angle iron bent to conjointly form a substantially rectangular transversely ex tending harrow frame, the front harrow frame being provided with a rearwardly extending sectipn l, and the rear barrow frame being provided with a forwardly extending section 2a. The transverse angle iron members forming the front and rear harrow fra-mes are connected at their ends by means of bearing blocks 1" and 2", re-

spectively, to receive and carry the pivot s 'bar. As a means of forming a guide for the inner ends of the front disk gangs and connecting the latter to the rear end of the movable draft member of draw-bar 4, the fixed draft member or stub-pole 3, is -extended rearwardly and connected to the rear extension section la, of the front harrow frame by means of connecting eleme-nts or bolts 3".

As a means of connecting the relatively fixed draft member or stub-pole 3, to the pivoted portion of the front pair of disk gangs 5, the front ends of the angle bar members forming the stub-pole are provided with relatively fixed draft members or braces 3", leading outwardly and downwardly and connected at their rear ends by means of outwardly and downwardly projecting brace members 1, connected to the front portions of the front harrow frame l, said brace members 1c being connected to draft links 3" connected to the intermediate bearing blocks 5", at the intermediate or pivoted portions of the front disk gangs.

The scraper carrying bars 5", of the front disk gangs 5, may be provided with bracket members 5, connected to the intermediate bearing blocks 5", and the inner bearing blocks 5d, as shown most clearly in Fig. 4 of the drawings. In the present instance, immediately above the pivoted portions 5", of the front disk gangs, bearing members 5, are formed above the bars 5", and connected to the front bearing blocks l", by y means of bearing bolts 5, the latter having limited transverse movement in the blocks l", thru the medium of slots 1d.

The front end of the movable draft or draw-bar 4, may be provided with a suitable clevis 4, for attachment to the draw-bar `of a tractor, or other suitable means of draft,

the rear end of the draw bar 4, being p-rovided with a guide head or bearing plate 4", adapted to slide on the top of the rear portion of the stub-pole 3, said guide head 4", being connected to the draft bar 4, by means of connecting bolts 4c, the sides of the head or plate 4", being provided with slots 4d, to receive and contain bearing bolts 4e, extending thru the inner ends of the bars 5", of the front disk gangs 5. By reason of this connection, it will be seen that the inner ends of the front disk gangs are held downwardly and in a true horizontal position in their various adjusted positions.

As a means of connecting the movable draw-bar 4, to the inner ends of the 'front pivoted gangs, the lower portion of the draw-bar is provided with a draft block 6, having downwardly extending. ears 6a, the latter being provided with fdraft links 7, leading to the inner bearing'bloeks 5d.

As a'me'ans of connecting the relatlvely movable draft links7, and the inner ends of the front pivoted gangs to the Vi rit ,rmediz1te or pivoted portions of the rear' disk gangs, and the outer ends of the rear harrow frame 2, so that the latter and said pivoted portions of the rear disk gangs will be simultaneously actuated with the actuation of the' innerends of the front disk gangs thru the movements i.

of the movable draft members, the inner ends of the front disk gangs are provided with bearing ears or brackets 8, said brackets, in the present instance, being connected to the inner ends of the gang bars 5d, and being connected to rearwardly diverging draft bars or links 9, connected at their rear ends to laterally extending downwardly inclined brace members 2?, on the rear harrow frame, and in turn connected to draft links 9, leading lto the intermediate bearing blocks 10a, and the rear disk gangs, 10. The rear disk y gangs 10, may beconnected to the, bearing blocks 2", of the rear harrow frame by means of pivot or bearing bolts 10", extending thru suitable bearing openings in the blocks 2", and connected, in the present instance, to the scraper carrying bars 10.

As a means of connecting the inner ends of the rear disk gangs in a relatively longitudinally fixed relation to the front harrow frame, the bars 10c, may be provided with brackets 10d, the latter being connected to relatively longitudinally ixed draft bars or links 11, the latter being pivotally connected to the rear extension portion 1a,`of the front frame, by means of pivots 11a. AS a means of transmitting the greater portionfof the draft immediately to the inner bearing blocks 10e, of the rear disk gangs, downwardly extending draft bars or 'brace rods 11", are provided.y the front ends of said brace rods extendingg'inthe present instance, thru suitable openings in the front portions of the draft bars 11, and being secured by means of cotter pins 11C, the rear ends terminating in hooks 11d, extending thru` the eyes of the inner blocks 10e, as shown most clearly in Fig. 5 of the drawings.

As a means of` holding the inner ends of the rear disk gangs in a true horizontal pov sition as against downward tilting or inclination Athereof when angled,the draft bars 11,

preferably extend beneath the frontA extern sion member 2a,.0f the rear harrow frame, and arepreferably 'horizontally supported above a keeper plate or bracket 2d, on the rear frame,`said bracket vbeing connected, in the present instance, by means of connecting elementsg2. j

As a meansof manually moving the relatively fixed and 'movable draft members 3 and 4,V respectively, whereby the ldraw bar 4, 'is moved `relatively rearwardly with respect ,tothe relatively fixed member 3, and

fixed and movable draft connections in the act of moving the inner ends of the front and rear gangs toward each other -in moving from parallel transporting positions to their angular working positions, one of the draft members, in the present instance, the stubpole 3, is provided with a bearing or supporting Jdevice, said device, in'the present instance,- comprisin bearing brackets 12, provided with bearing openings to receive and contain a shaft `13, the latter being provided 'with an actuating device, in the present instance inthe specific form of a wheel 14, the wheel 14, being adapted to actuate 0r move the shaft 13,. the ends of the shaft 13 being angular andprovided with crank arms 15,. As a means of connecting the actuating wheel 14, and its crank arms 15, to the relatively movable draft member or draw-bar 4, and'particularly as a means of causing the latter to be released as against the implement drawing tractive force when the draw-bar is at the extreme end of its adjustment and the v,disk gangs arey moved slightly beyond their fully angled positions for the automatiereturn of parts to their transporting positions, the crank arms l15 are provided with connecting links 16, 4the latter extending rearwardly and being connected .to ears 17a, of draft-block 17. y f

As a means of actuating the wheel 14, the latter is provided with ratchet ,teeth- 14, adapted to be engaged and-moved by means the f respectively relatively longitudinally of a pawl 18, mounted between arms 19, of l i the actuating lever 19.

The released by means of a rod 18a., leading to a pawl 1-8, is adapted to be operated or,

releasing lever 19", the pawl -18 being nor;

mally held in engagement with"the teeth 14` by means of a spring 18".` The bracket arms 19a, of the lever, are pivoted within the sides of the bearing brackets 12, by means of pivot members 20.

As a means of securing the actuating wheel or member-14, as; against retrograde movement when the disk gangs are angled` a. -pivoted pawl 21, is mounted between the rear. portions of the brackets 12, and is normally held in'engagement with the teeth 14, by means of a spring 21, and asia means of permitting the return of the wheel 14, and

the arms 15, to permit the manual return of the actuating wheel in opposite direction by the lever 19, asin moving the gangs from an angular position to a less angular position when the tractor is in motion, a pivoted release lever 22, is pivotally connected to the side of one of the brackets by means of a pivot element 22a, said lever extending forwardly and being provided with a depend- 'ng arm connected to a connecting link 23, leading to the pawl 21, so that by pressing downwardly on the release lever 22, the paWl will be moved out/of engagement to clear the ratchet teethin a return movement of the actuating wheel.

As a means of providing for the automatic return of the disk gangs from their angular or working positions to their parallel extending or transporting positions without releaslng the pawl 21, thru the release lever 22, the crank arms 15, and connecting links 16, are so arranged and connected with respect to the shaft 13, that the cranks will extend forwardly directly in front of the shaft 13, when the disk gangs arein their parallel positions, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings, the arrangement being such that when the disk gangs are in substantially their fully angled positions, the free ends of the crank arms 15, will assume a position substantially diametrically opposite their initial positions shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, or at the rear of the shaft 13, it being obvious that as the actuating wheel `s moved in the direction of the arrows indicated in Figs. 3 and 7 of the drawings, and thc cranks 15, are thereby carried downwardly and rearwardly, the constant forward pressure on the connectinglinks 16, caused by the tendency of the draw bar 4, to pull forwardly as the disk harrow is drawn by the tractor, will cause the teeth 14a, of the wheel to firmly engage the pawls 1S and 21, and it will be obvious that when the cranks 15, and links 16, pass over the diametrically opposite position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings and therefore over their dead centers with respect to the forward pressure of the links 16, and the shaft 13, the latter with the wheel 14, and cranks 15, and their connections, will be moved forwardly relative to the draft frame or harrow vframe as the latter moves relatively rearwardly, thereby automatically permitting the' wheel to be moved forwardly by the draft on the draw bar thru the connecting links 16, and cranks 15, in the upper portion of the revolution of the latter. When the partsare in such non-angled or transporting positions the same may be agam moved to their angular positions by a repetition of the movements hereinbefore described.

Having thus described one of the embodiments of my invention without having atiaemso tempted' to set forth all the forms in which it may be made, or all the modes of its use, what l claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is,--

1. In a harrow, tandem frame units and tillage gangs, a relatively fixed draft guide on one of said frame units, relatively movable draft connections guided by said guide and connected to the inner and intermediate portions of said front and rear tillage gangs, respectively, and relatively longitudinally fixed draft connections connected to one of said frame units and the opposite inner porvsaid adjusting member to the other of said draft members, means for moving said adj usting member and locking the same against retrograde movement, and means for automatically returning said adjusting member at the end of the throw of said movable draft member.

4. ln a tractor drawn tandem disk harrow, the combination with the relatively longitudinally, fixed and movable draft members thereof, of actuating and adjusting mechanism interposed between said fixed and movable draft members, means for actuating said mechanism in one direction, and means for causing the relatively movable draft member to be automatically returned at the end of its working stroke by said actuating and adjusting mechanism.

5. 1n a tandem disk harrow, the combination with relatively fixed and movable draft members; of an adjusting device on one of said members, means connecting said adjusting device to the other of said draft members, means for moving said adjusting device in one direction, means for locking the same against movement in an opposite direction, and 'means for automatically returning said adjusting device at the end of the throw of said movable draft member.

6. In a tillage implement, front and rear harrow frames, front and rear tillage gangs, a fixed central draft guide on said front harrow frame, a movable draft appliance on said guide, a guide head on said movable draft appliance connected to the inner ends of said front tillage gangs, draft links extending from the latter to said draft apguided by said guide,

nected to the other, means for actuatingsaid adjusting member whereby said movable member is actuated, means for preventing retrograde movement of said adjusting member, and .automatic means for permitting the return of said movable memer at the end of its throw by said adjustl ing mechanism.

8. In a disk harrow, front and rear harrow frames each made up of angle bars bent into substantially rectangular harrow frames, the rear member of said front harrow frame being bent into a rearwardly extending section, and the front member of said rear harrow frame being bentnto a forwardly extending section, a keeper bracket attached to the front of said forwardly extending section, disk gangs on said rear harrow frame, and draft bars pivotally connected to said rearwardly extending section of said front harrow frame and extending through said keeper plate and beneath said forward Section of the rear harrow frameto the inner ends of the disk angs carried by the latter.

9. n a` tillage implement, front and rear harrow frames having rearwardly and forwardly extending extensions, front and rear pairs of pivoted tillage gangs, a central fixed draft guide, a movable draft appliance a guide head on said movable draft appliance guided by said.

draft guide and connected to the inner ends of said front tillage gangs, draft links extending from thelatter to said draft appliance, draft links connected to the inner ends of `said front tillage gangs and the outer ends of said rear harrow frame and the pivoted portions of said rear tillage gangs, and draft links connected to the rearward extension of said front harrow yframe. and slidably connected to the forl ward extension of said rear barrow frame and to the inner ends of said rear tillage gangs, j

10. A draft appliance for tractor drawn tandem disk harrows, comprising relatively fixed and movable draft members, a bearing on said fixed draft member, an adjust- Aing wheel on said bearing provided with crank arms, means for preventing retrograde movement of said adjusting wheel, means for actuating said adjusting wheel, and means for connecting said crank arms to said movable draft member whereby the latter and said adjusting wheel and cranks will be locked during half ofthe revolution of said wheel and crank arms and the latter will be automatically returned upon passing dead centers and during the other half of their revolution.

11. A draft appliance for tractor drawn tandem disk harrows, comprising relatively fixed and movable draft members, an adjusting wheel mounted on one of said draft members and provided with cranks, means for preventing movement of said adjusting wheel in one direction, means for actuating said adjusting wheel in the opposite direction, and means for connecting said cranks to the other draft member whereby the latter and said adjusting wheel will be locked during half of their revolution and upon passing dead centers will be actuated by said draft members to restore the latter fixed draft guide on said front frame unit,

a draw-barprovided with connections connected to the inner and intermediate portions of said front and rear tillage gangs, respectively, relatively longitudinally fixed draft connections on said front frame unit connected to the opposite inner and intermediate portions of said tillage gangs,means for manually moving and locking said draw-bar in one direction` connections for angularly adjusting said disk gangs against the forward draft of the tractor, and automatic means. for releasing and causing the return of said draw-bar and tillage gangs to their original positions when the-latter are moved beyond their fullyangled working positions.

13. In a tractor drawn tandem disk harrow, in combination with frontend rear harrow framesv each provided with a` pair of disk gangs, relatively longitudinally fixed f row frames each' made up of angle bars curved into a substantially rectangular harrow frame, the rear member of said front ian harrow frame forming a rearwardly extending section, and the front member of said rear harrow frame forming a forwardly extending section, a keeper bracket on said forwardly extending section, disk gangs n said rear harrow fi'ame and draft bars connected tov said rearwardly extending section of said front liarrow frame and extending over said keeper plate and beneath said forward section ofthe rear liarrow frame and flexibly attached to the inner ends of the disk gangs carried by the latter.

l5. In a tractor drawn tillage implement, front and rear harrow frames, pairs of tillage gangs pivotally connected thereto, a centi'al Yrelatively fixed draft member forming a guide on said front harrow frame, a draw-bar in said guide flexibly connected to the inner endstof said front tillage gangs, relatively longitudinally fixed draft links connected to said front harrow frame and the inner ends of said rear tillage gangs, draft links flexibly connected to the inner ends of' said front tillage gangs and relatively fixed to the Outer ends of said rear liarrow frame whereby the latter will be moved rearwardly with the rearward angling movement of said front tillage gangs, and the pivoted portion of the rear gangs will be moved rearwardly to angle the same and means for actuating adjusting and'locking said relatively fixed and movable draft connections and frame units relative to each other as against the forward draft movement of the tractor.

16. In a t-ractor drawn tillage implement, front and rear 'harrow frames having rearward and forward extensions, pairs ,of tillage gangs pivotally connected thereto, a. stub-pole forming'a guide on said front liarrow frame, a draw-bar on saidstubpole having a guide head flexibly connected to the inner ends of said front tillage gangs, relatively longitudinally fixed draft links connected to said rearward extension of. said front barrow frame and slidably supported on said forward extension of said rear liarrow frame and vconnected to theI iny ner ends of said rear tillage gangs. draft links connected to the inner ends of said front tillage gangs and the pivoted portions of said rear gangs and relatively fixed to the outer ends ofv said rear harrow frame whereby the latter and said pivoted portions of said rear gangs will be moved rearwardly with the rearward angling movement given to said front tillage gangs, and means for adjusting and locking said rela tively fixed and movable draft connections and frame units. relative to each other as tudinally movable draft fiexible connec-- tions connected to the inner ends of said front tillage gangs and relatively fixed to the outer ends of said rear frame unit, means between said relatively fixed and movablevdraft members for moving and locking said movable draft members in one direction yfor relatively moving said frame units and angling said tillage gangs, and

'means for automatically releasing said actuating anddocking mechanism when said tillage gangs are moved beyond their angular working positions whereby tlie latter will automatically assume ltheir parallel transporting position.

18. In a tractor drawn disk harrow, tandem frame units and pivoted tillage gangs, relatively fixed draft members on said front frame unit, some of said draft members being connected to the pivoted portions of said front tillage gangs, and the others forming a guide, a movable draft bar in said guide connected to the inner ends of said front tillage gangs, relatively longitudinally fixed draft members connected to said front frame unit and the inner ends of said rear tillage gangs, relatively' longitudiiially movable draft connections between tlie inner ends of said front tillage gangs and the outer ends of said rear frame unit and the pivoted portions of said rear tillage gangs, means between said relatively fixed and movable draft members for moving and locking said movable draft members in one direction for relatively moving said frame units and angling said tillage gangs against the forward draft of the tractor, and means for automatically returning said actuating and locking mechf aiiisin when said tillage gangs are moved beyond their angular working positions whereby the latter will automatically assume their parallel transporting position by the forward draft of the tractor. l In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

RICHARD H. GRIFFITH. 

